Methods and products to provide oral nutritional care to subjects with dementia

Abstract

The present invention provides food products, nutritional programs, and methods for meeting nutritional needs of subjects with dementia and related cognitive disorders. In one embodiment, the invention provides a food product comprising a reversibly sealed container and a soup, wherein the soup is in the container and comprises a total volume of 200-2000 mls, a vegetable or meat component, 300 to 2500 calories, a macronutrient caloric distribution comprising: 20-80% fat, 10-45% protein, and 10-65% carbohydrate, about 2% to about 40% medium chain triglycerides, omega 3 fatty acids in an amount of 100 to 2000 mg and less than 20 solid food particles having a volume greater than about 20 cm3. Such food products, when administered to affected subjects, can positively impact (i) nutritional status; (ii) quality of life; (iii) disease course; (v) the demand for assistance from a care giver; (vi) subject compliance with a nutritional plan using the food product, and (vii) ease of monitoring compliance by the caregiver for verification.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A food product comprising a soup, wherein the soup comprises:
 a. 200 ml to 2000 ml of water; and 
 b. a vegetable or meat component comprising fat, protein and carbohydrate, wherein the fat comprises medium chain triglycerides (MCTs); wherein the soup has 
 c. 300 to 2500 calories; and 
 d. a macronutrient caloric distribution that is: i. 20-80% fat; ii. 10-45% protein; and iii. 10-65% carbohydrate; and 
 e. medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in an amount wherein about 2% to about 40% of the fat calories are provided by the MCT. 
 
     
     
       2. The food product of  claim 1  wherein the macronutrient caloric distribution is 10% to 25% protein. 
     
     
       3. The food product of  claim 1  wherein the macronutrient caloric distribution is 10% to 50% carbohydrate. 
     
     
       4. The food product of  claim 3  wherein the food product induces ketosis in a human. 
     
     
       5. The food product of  claim 1  wherein at least 70% w/w of the carbohydrates are complex carbohydrates or soluble fiber. 
     
     
       6. The food product of  claim 1  wherein less than 5% of the calories are provided by refined sugars. 
     
     
       7. The food product of  claim 1  further comprising folate in an amount of at least 200 μg. 
     
     
       8. The food product of  claim 1  further comprising omega 3 fatty acids in an amount of 100 to 2000 mg. 
     
     
       9. The food product of  claim 8  further comprising omega 6 fatty acids wherein the ratio of the omega 3 fatty acids to the omega 6 fatty acids is at least 1 to 3. 
     
     
       10. The food product of  claim 1  further comprising an allium vegetable. 
     
     
       11. The food product of  claim 1  further comprising fiber in an amount of 2.5 to 30 gm. 
     
     
       12. The food product of  claim 1  further comprising cholesterol in an amount of 0 to 250 mg. 
     
     
       13. The food product of  claim 1  further comprising solid food particles wherein the D 90  is 5 cm or less. 
     
     
       14. A kit comprising the food product of  claim 1  and a bread product. 
     
     
       15. A method of treating a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the food product of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is for age-related cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment.